Solar panels boost Afghan poppy crop 

Afghan opium farmers have turned to solar panels to power irrigation systems and boost productivity in arid parts of the Helmand Valley, despite declines in the amount of land growing poppies


Poppy cultivation (hectares)
Poppy free 
Less than 1,000 
1,001-10,000 
10,001-20,000 
20,001-30,000 
Above 30,000

Farah Down 35%
Nimroz Down 78%
Helmand Down 34%
Kandahar Down 40%
Uruzgan Down 38%
Nangarhar Nangarhar 82%


Opium poppy cultivation (hectares, 000s)
0,000 Opium yield (tonnes)
	
157 	123 	123	131 	154 	209 	224	183	201	328	263	163
5,900	4,000	3,600	5,800	3,700	5,500	6,400	3,300	4,800	9,000	6,400 	6,400
2008 	2009 	2010 	2011 	2012 	2013 	2014 	2015 	2016 	2017 	2018 	2019


Sources: UNODC, Afghanistan Analysts Network 
Picture: Getty Images 
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